Latch mechanism



5, 1938. A KNAPP 2,122,612

LATCH MECHANISM Filed March 17, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l 75 jjwuwrm 72 Alia75E L. XA/AFP LATCH MECHANISM Filed March 17, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 iiiPatented July 5, 1938 PATENT OFFICE LATCH MECHANISM Archer L. Knapp,Detroit, Mich, assignor to Packard Motor Car Company, Detroit, Mich., acorporation of Michigan Application March 1'7,

'1 Claims.

This invention relates to latch mechanism for motor vehicle doors andhas for its principal object the provision of mechanism for connectingthe locks of twodoors whereby simultaneous actuation of both locks maybe effected by manipulation of a single operating means. In thepreferred form of the invention, the locking mechanisms for adjacentfront and rear doors at one side of a vehicle are interconnected topermit displacement to locking position of both locking mechanisms byoperation of the usual manual control element associated with the frontdoor. Thus with this construction it is possible to complete the lockingof the vehicle body by means readily accessible from the front seat ofthe vehicle and the manipulation of the locking means associated withthe rear door is rendered unnecessary. 7

It is a further object of the invention to-pro- 0 vide means readilyaccessible from the front seat of the vehicle and preferably locatedadjacent the front door opening to permit the release of the lockingmechanism for the rear door, as distinguished from theconventional'arrangement which requires the operator to lean over theback of the front seat and reach into the rear portion of the vehiclebody to admit passengers to the rear compartment.

Further objects and features of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure l is a side elevational view of a vehicle bodypanel as viewed from the interior of the vehicle illustrating one modeof applying the invention thereto;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through a portion of thestructure shown in Figure 1 taken substantially on the line 2-2 ofFigure 3; t

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view. on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure3;

Figures 5 and 6 are sectional views corresponding to Figure 3 andillustrating modifications of the structure shown in the latter figure;

Figure 7 isa vertical sectional view corresponding to Figure 2 andillustrating a further modification;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially onthe line 8-8 of Figure 7; and

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

1934, Serial No. 716,133

In describing the invention reference will be made to the severalmodified forms thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings andspecific language will be employed. It will be understood, however, thatby the use of detailed de- 5 scriptive language no limitation of theinvention is intended but that various further modifications arecontemplated such as fall within the actual scope of the invention asdefined in the claims appended hereto.

Referring first to the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 3inclusive of the drawings, it will be observed that the body structureincludes a front door Ill, a rear door H, and a pillar I2 intermediatethe two doors, the doors being preferably hinged in the conventionalmanher at the sides thereof remote from the pillar I2 and engaging thelatter only in the closed position. As illustrated in the drawings, thelatch and locking mechanism for the two doors is similar, and the samereference numerals will therefore be employed to designate thecorresponding parts.

Thus each door is provided with manually op-- erable means accessiblefrom the interior of the vehicle for controlling the latch and lockingmechanism of the associated door, this means including a handle l5carried by a shaft l6 which is journalled for rotation in the door panelin the usual manner. Each shaft I6 is provided with an arm I! disposedwithin the door panel and connected by means of a link 20 with a lockingplate 2|, the latter being supported for reciprocal sliding movement ona latch plate or casing indicated generally at 22.

Carried by each latch casing 22 is a reciprocable latch bolt 25 havingthe usual bevelled striking portion 26 cooperating with a suitablekeeper (not shown) in the pillar |2 in the conventional manner, a coilspring 28 carried by the latch cas- 40 ing 22engaging a tongue 29 struckout from each latch bolt 25 to urge the latter toward the position shownin Figure 2 of the drawings in which the latch bolts cooperate with therespective keepers. 45

Each locking plate 2| is guided for sliding movement on and with respectto the associated latch bolt 25, for instance by means'of cooperatingflanges 3| and 32 formed on the locking plates and on the latchesrespectively, the latch bolts being supported in turn for slidingmovement on the latch casing 22 in-any suitable manner. A lockingabutment or dog 35 is formed on or carried by each locking plate 2|, theabutment 35 being supported against'downward dismembers.

the rearward face thereof which engages the lug v placement by means ofa guide 35 carried by the latch casing 22. A lost motion connection isalso provided between each locking plate 2| 'and. the associated latchbolt 25, this connection including for instance a pin 38 carried by thelatch bolt and extending through a slot 48 formed in the associatedlocking plate. As shown more particularly in Figure 2 of the drawings,this pin and slot connection aifords considerable clearance between thelatch and locking plate permitting limited relative movement of the twoThus on displacement of either locking plate 2| in a direction away fromthe pillar l2, the pin 38 will be engaged by one end of the slot 48 sothat the latch bolt 25 is retracted from the keeper in the pillar |2,this movement of the locking plate being effected by rotation of theassociated handle I in a clockwisedirection and through the medium ofthe link 28, so that the door is permitted to swing open, the spring 28returni'ng'the latch bolt to its normal position when the handle isreleased. If either handle I5 is rotated in a counterclockwisedirection, the associated link 20 and locking plate 2| will be displacedtoward the pillar, but the clearance between the pin 58 and that end ofthe slot 4|] adjacent the link 28 is sumcient to permit the lockingplate to be displaced without movement of the latch bolt 25. Suchmovement of the locking plate 2| serves to position the dogging abutment35 earried thereby beneath the projection 43 formed on the roll back 42,the latter being in turn carried on the non-circular por--' tion of theshaft 44 which is journalled in the door panel and which extends throughthe latter to the exterior of the vehicle and is provided with however,the dogging abutment 35 has been po-- sitioned beneath the projection 43on the roll back 42, such movement of the roll back 42 is prevented andthe door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle.

I The construction thus far described is more or less conventional andforms no essential part of the present invention except insofar as itcooperates with the mechanism hereinafter described. Thus the inventionis equally applicable to other types of latch'and locking mechanismordinarily employed in connection with vehicle doors.

It will be observed that the latch casing 22 associated with the forwarddoor of the vehicle is provided with guides 49 which may besubstantially U-shaped in cross-section and which serve to support amember 50 also U-shap'ed in section, the latter being recessed asindicated at 5| to receive a cam 54, the rearward end of the recess 5|terminating in a lug 55 struck up from the member 58. The cam 54 ispivoted at 51 to the latch casing 22 and is provided adjacent its lowerend with a roller 56v arranged for engagement by an abutment 59 securedto the looking plate 2|, for instance by attachment to the upper flange3| on the locking plate. As the lock-. ing plate 2| is moved rearwardly,the cam 54 will be rocked in a counterclockwise direction so that 55serves to displace the member 50 toward the pillar l2, return movementof the locking plate 2| producing no corresponding movement of the cam54. v,

A link 60 is pivoted at one end to the member 58 by means of a pin 62and its opposite end by means of a pin 63 to a member 64, the latterbeing in turn fulcrumed for pivotal movement as at 65 on the latchcasing 22 and being disposed adjacent an opening 61 in the edge panel 68of the door so that the member 64 may be swung throngh this panel in aclockwise direction from the position in which it is shown in Figure 3of the drawings, an abutment 69 on the latch casing 22 serving to engagethe member 58 to limit the rearward movement of this member andconsequently the extent to whichthe member 64 may be displaced throughthe opening 61.

The pillar I2 is provided with a recess 18 therein which is adapted toreceive cooperating threaded members H and 12, the latter being providedwith headed portions whereby they may be threaded together to clamp themin position in the recess 18 as shown in Figure 3. The member 12 ispreferably provided with a non-circular peripheral portion engaging acorrespondingly shaped aperture 13 in the pillar facing to preventrotation thereof. The members H and 12 are further provided with anaperture 14 therethrough, preferahly non-circular as shown. in Figure,4, in which is received a correspondingly shaped bolt 15, the latterbeing provided with a longitudinally extending slot 11 in which isdisposed a pin 18 secured in the member 12, whereby the bolt 15 maypartake of limited longitudinal sliding movement within the members Hand 12 but is retained against rotation.

- The bolt 15 extends between and in the closed position of both doorsnormally engages at its opposite ends with the, member 64 and a similarmember 88, the latter being pivoted as at 8| to the latch casing 22 forthe rear door panel'and being pivctally connected by means of a link 84with a member 85, the latter corresponding to the member 50 hereinbeforedescribed and being supported on the latch casing by guides 86 forlongitudinal sliding movement. The member 85- is provided with a recess81 receiving a cam 88, the forward cam surface of the latter engaging 2.lug 89 struck up from the member 85. Forward rocking movement of themember 86 through the aperture 8| formed in the edge panel 92 of therear door is limited by means of an abutment 93 on the latch casing 22arranged to engage the member 85 to limit the forward movement of thelatter.

The cam 88 is pivotally supported at 95 on the latch casing 22 and isprovided at its lower end with a roller 96 engaging an abutment 81corresponding to the abutment 59 and similarly secured to the associatedrocking plate 2 I.

The operation of the construction thus far described will be apparent:'When the handle I 5 associated with the front door I is moved in acounterciockwise direction, the link 20 and associated locking.plate 2|are moved rearwardly is thus moved beneath the projection 43 on the rollback 42 to lock the rear door II. The front door may now be locked andunlocked at will without disturbing the locking mechanism associatedwith the rear door, although operation of the handle I5 on the rear doorto unlock the latter will at the same time unlock the front door throughthe forward displacement of the bolt 15.

In lieu of the construction illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 inclusiveemploying a bolt 15, either of the arrangements shown in Figures 5 and 6may be used. Thus in Figure 5 a bolt I is provided for directengagementwith the cam 55, this bolt being carried by the latch casing. 22 of theforward door for reciprocal movement by means of a bracket IOI. The boltI00 engages a member I04 which is pivoted as at I to a bracket I08carried by the pillar I2. A similar member I08 pivoted as at I09 to abracket IIO secured to the pillar is connected with the member I04 bymeans of a link II2 pivoted to both, the construction constituting inefiect a double hinge. The member I08 engages a bolt II5 which isslidably sup ported in a bracket II8 carried by the latch casing 22associated with the rear door of the vehicle, the bolt II5 beingconnected by means of a link 8 to the upper end of the cam .88. Theconstruction may otherwise correspond to that shown in the first threefigures of the drawings and the mode of operation is the same, it beingobvious that the cam 88 will be oscillated in response to displacementof the cam 54 to effect locking of the reardoor when the forward door islocked.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 8 of the drawings the constructioncorresponds to that illustrated in Figure 5 with the exception that thebolts I00 and ,I I5 engage resilient elements I20 and. I2I respectivelywhich are secured as at I22 to the pillar I2 at opposite sides thereof.A thrust element comprising a bolt I24 threaded in a recess I25 in a nutelement I28 is slidably supported in a sleeve I28 fitted snugly within acorresponding recess extending through the pillar I2, the bolt I24 andnut I26 being locked by means of a lock nut I20, so that the length ofthis thrust member may be readily adjusted. At its ends the thrustmember abuts the resilient elements I20 and I2I so as to transmit motionfrom the locking mechanism for the front door to that of the rear door.The resilient elements I20 and I2I will normally retain the thrustelement in an intermediate position within the pillar so that the doorsmay be closed without risk of damaging the parts of the interconnectingmechanism. With this'construction any playwhich may be present at anypoint in the mechanism may be reduced to a minimum by proper adjustmentof thelength of the thrust element.

"The construction shown in Figures 7, 8, and 9 of the drawingsisprovided for the purpose of facilitating the unlocking of the reardoor of the vehicle, which in the conventional construction requiresmanipulation of the handle l5 associated with the rear door. Forconvenience in illustrating and describing this construction, lock ingmechanisms for the doors identical with those shown in Figures 1 to 3are employed, and similar reference characters are employed to designatesimilar parts. Means are provided,

however, to normally displace the, bolt 15 carried by the pillar I2 tothe forward position and to normally urge the various elements of thelocking mechanism for the rear door to a position in which that door isunlocked. This means may comprise a spring seat I35 carried by the latchcasing 22 for the rear door and serving as an abutment and guide for acoil spring I38 which in turn engages a lug I38 struck up from themember 85, the latter being supported for sliding movement on the latchcasing 22 and having an articulated connection through the link 84 withthe pivoted member 80 as in the form of the invention shown in Figures 1to 3 inclusive. The cam 88 may be provided at its lower. end with aclosed or pivotal connection to the locking plate 2| or, as shown inFigure 7 of the drawings, a coil spring I40 may be connected to a lugI4I formedon or carried by the latch bolt 25 and a member I43 secured toor carried on the locking plate 2I and having a lug I44 engaged by theroller 88 of the cam 88, it being only necessary to ensure that thelocking plate 2I will follow the movements of the cam 88 in eitherdirection.

In order that the rear door will remainlocked when the mechanism isoncedisplaced to locking position and until it is desired to unlock thedoor, means are provided for retaining the bolt 15 against forwarddisplacement in the pillar I2 under the influence of the coil springI38. This means is shown more particularly in Figures 8 and 9 of thedrawings. and may include a housing I46 having an aperture I41 extendingtherethrough in which the bolt I5 is disposed, a similar aperture I48being provided in an element I43 having a threaded connection as at I50with the housing I48 and serving to clamp the latter in position in theopening I52 provided in the pillar I2. The bolt 15 is provided with arecess I54, and a pin I55 suitably secured at its ends within thehousing I48 is disposed within this recess to limit reciprocal movementof the bolt 15 and to prevent rotation thereof.

The bolt I5 is also provided with recesses I58 and I59 disposed inspaced longitudinal relation,

these recesses being selectively engageable by the rounded end I80 of apin I8I, the latter having a headed portion I82 slidable in an apertureI83 within the housing I48 and transversely of the pin 15. A member I89is formed to receive therein a coiled spring I10, the latter actingunder compression between the member I89 and the pin I8I. The member I89is further'provided with a rounded end I12 which normally engages thecylindrical surface of plunger I14 having an v operating button I15 atthe outer end thereof.

The plunger I14 is slidably supported in the housing I48, slidingmovement thereof being limited by means of an abutment I11 engaging aslot I18 in the plunger. the abutment I11 having a portion I19 threadedwithin a recess I80 in the housing I48. A coiled spring I82 acts undercompression between the rear end of the plunger I14 and a spring seatI83 having threaded connection with the housing I48 to normally maintainthe plunger in the position shown in Figure 9. The plunger I14 isfurther provided with a recess I85 having preferably the configurationshown which is arranged to accommodate the headed portion I12 of themember I89 when the plunger is displaced rearwardly by pressure appliedby the finger to the button I15.

The stress initially applied to the coiled spring I10 is sufficient whenthe parts occupy the position in which they are shown in Figure 9 of thedrawings to retain the bolt I5 against displace ment forwardly inresponse to the action of the displaced rearwardly to permit the roundedend I12 of the member I69 to seat within the recess I in the plunger,the degree of compression of the spring I'Hl is relieved to an extentsuflicient to permit the spring I36 to displace the member 85 :and thebolt I5 forwardly so that the pin l6l will drop within the recess I58,the spring Mil then displacing the locking plate 2i for the rear door tothe unlocked position in the manner hereinbefore explained.

It is obvious that with this construction the rear door can be unlockedat any time by manipulation of the usual handle l5 associated therewith,the resistance oifered by the spring I10 and pin IGI to a forwardmovement of the bolt 15 being relatively small. When, however, it isdesired to unlock the rear door without reaching into the rearcompartment of the vehicle, the application of slight pressure to thebutton I15 will suflice.

It is apparent that considerable rearrangement of the structuredescribed is permissible without affecting the underlying principles.For instance, button I15 may be made accessible from the inner facerather than the forward edge of the pillar I 2 by disposing the plungerat right angles to the position in which it is shown in the drawings.Numerous other changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art towhich the invention relates, such changes being deemed within the scopeof the present invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a vehicle having a front .door, a rear door, and a pillarintermediate said doors, the combination with locking mechanism carriedby said rear door and cooperating with said pillar to retain said reardoor in closed position, of manually operable means carried by saidpillar and associated'with said locking mechanism for releasing thelatter, said means being covered by said front door in the closedposition of the latter.

2. In a vehicle having doors at the same side thereof and a pillarintermediate said doors, the

combination with locking mechanism carried by one of said doors andcooperating with said pil-' lar to retain such door in closed position,of manually operable means carried by said pillar and associated withsaid locking mechanism for releasing the latter, and manually operablemeans carried by the other of said doors and connected with said lockingmechanism for actuating the latter to lock said first named door.

3. In a vehicle having doors at the same side thereof anda pillarintermediate said doors, the combination with locking mechanism carriedby each of said doors and cooperating with said pillar to retain saiddoors in closed position, of manually operable means carried by eachdoor for actuating the associated locking mechanismlto lock and releasethe door, and means aifording a mechanical connection between saidlocking mechanisms, whereby the manually operable means carried by oneonly of said doors,

actuates both locking mechanisms to concurrently lock both doors, andwhereby the manually operable means carried by the'other only of saiddoors actuates both locking mechanisms to concurrently release bothdoors.

4. In a vehicle having doors at the same side thereof and a pillarintermediate said doors, the combination with locking mechanism carriedby each of said doors and cooperating with said pillar to retain saiddoors in closed position, of manually operable means carried by eachdoor for actuating the associated locking mechanism to lock and releasethe door, and linkage affording a mechanical connection between saidlocking mechanisms, said linkage being movable in one direction by thelocking mechanism of one only of said doors to actuate the lockingmechanism of the other door, and movable in the opposite direction torelease the locking mechanism of said first named door only by thereleasing movement of the locking mechanism of said second named door.

5. In a vehicle having doors at the same side thereof and a pillarintermediate said doors, in combination, locking mechanism carried byeach of said doors and cooperating with said pillar to retain said doorsin closed position, each of said locking mechanisms comprising a bolt, a

roll back, and a dog for said roll back, linkage affording a mechanicalconnection between said dogs whereby upon movement of one of them intoposition to dog its roll back said linkage will be moved in a directionto cause the other dog to be moved into position to dog its roll back,said linkage being movable in the opposite direction to release saidfirst named dog only by movement of said second named dog to release itsroll back. i

6. In a vehicle having doors at the same side thereof and a pillarintermediate said doors, in combination, locking mechanism carried byeach of said doors and cooperating with said pillar to retain said doorsin closed position, each of said locking mechanisms comprising a belt, aroll back, and a dog for said roll back, an exterior handle for each ofsaid roll backs and an interior handle for each of said dogs onthe-respective doors, linkage extending between said doors and having alost motion abutment connection with each of said dogs whereby movementof the dog of 'one of said doors into position to dog its roll back willmove the other dog into position to dog its roll back and releasing'movement of said second named dog will move said first named dog alsoto releasing position, resilient means continuously urging said linkageto releasing position, resiliently urged detent means for retaining.said linkage in dog-holding position against the action of said urgingmeans but not against positive releasing action of said dog actuatinghandles, and manual means for releasing said detent means to enable theresilient means to move the dog to releasing position.

7. In a vehicle having a master door and a secondary door at the sameside thereof and a pillar intermediate said doors, in' combination,locking mechanism carried by each of said doors and cooperating withsaid pillar to retain said doors in closed position, each of saidlocking mechanisms comprising a bolt, a roll back, and a dog for saidroll back, an exterior handle for each of said roll backs and aninterior handle for each of said dogs on the respective doors, linkageextending between said dogs and through said pillar and having a lostmotion abutment 4 to releasing position, resilient means continuous- 1yurging said second named dog to releasing position, resilient meanscontinuously urging said linkage to releasing position, resilientlyurged detent means in said pillar for retaining said linkage in dogholding position against the action of said urging means but not againstpositive releasing action of said handles, manual means in said pillarfor releasing said detent means to enable the resilient means to movethe dog to releasing position, said manual means being concealed andcovered by a portion of said master door when the latter is closed.

ARCHER L. KNAPP.

